1942 is the fourth to the last of the Mercury Dime series, ending in 1945. It also marks the end of the Proof dime coins. So, with those factors, many collectors have their eyes on this particular mint.
With this 1942 Dime Value Guide, let’s get into the details of what makes this Mercury Dime valuable!
1942 Mercury Dime Value Summary
Below is the estimated value for the 1942 Mercury Dime, according to the NGC. It involves the value of the coin from the lowest good grade to the highest mint state.
| Mint Location | Mintage | Coin Series | Estimated Value |
| Philadelphia | 205,410,000 | 1972 P 10C | $3.00 to $675.00 |
| 1972 P 10C FB | $8.50 to $6250.00 | ||
| 1942 10C PF | $110.00 to $19,500.00 | ||
| 1942 10C PF CA | $500.00 to $6250.00 | ||
| Denver | 60,740,000 | 1942 D 10C | $325.00 to $16,000.00 |
| 1942 D 10C FB | $2,100.00 to $65,000.00 | ||
| San Francisco | 49,300,000 | 1942 S 10C | $3.00 to $500.00 |
| 1942 S 10C FB | $10.00 to $9750.00 | ||
| 1942 S 10C FBP | $300.00 |
1942 Mercury Dime DetailsAs you can see, the base price for the 1942 Mercury dime can go as low as $3.00 to $65,000. The 1942 D 10C MS FB provides the highest value according to the estimated prices.
- Category: Mercury Dimes
- Material: Silver (90%), Copper (10%)
- Fineness:0.900
- ASW: 0.0723oz
- Weight: 2.5g
- Obverse and Reverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Diameter: 17.8mm
- Edge: Reeded
The United States Mint produced the Mercury Dime between 1916 and 1945. Although it has Mercury in its coin series name, the bust depicted on the obverse side of the coin is not the Roman God.
With the bust designed by Adolph Weinman, this coin is named as the Winged Liberty Head. However, it’s mostly known as the Mercury Dime. It acquired its nickname due to the likeness of a Liberty with a winged cap being mistakenly identified as the ancient god Mercury.
Additionally, the letters “AW,” representing Weinman’s initials is present on the left side of Lady Liberty, along with the mint year. Meanwhile, the words ‘’IN GOD WE TRUST’’ is on the right side.
The back of the coin features a unique design thoughtfully crafted by Weinman. It showcases an axe and olive branches placed vertically within the torch.
The phrase ‘’E PLURIBUS UNUM’’ can be found on the right side of the torch, with ‘’UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’’ at the top and ‘’ONE DIME’’ at the bottom. If there is a mint mark, it will be located on the lower-left rim of the torch.
Also, this coin belongs to the list of silver coins. It has a 9:1 ratio for its silver to copper content, creating its melt value about $1.70 on average. However, the actual sale price for the whole coin could be higher, even at a lower grade. In fact, the lowest grade of this coin can sell for around $3.00.
How Much Is A 1942 Mercury Dime?
The following is the estimated price for the Regular Strike 1942 Mercury Dime. Being of MS series, most of these coins can be poorly struck and prone to errors.
| 1942 Regular Strike Mercury Dime Value List | |||
| Grading | 1942 P | 1942 D | 1942 S |
| Good | $3.00 | $325.00 | $3.00 |
| Fine | $3.35 | $400.00 | $3.35 |
| Extremely Fine | $3.65 | $625.00 | $3.50 |
| AU 50 | $3.75 | $900.00 | $3.65 |
| AU 58 | $4.15 | $1,800.00 | $5.50 |
| MS 60 | $6.50 | $2,800.00 | $7.50 |
| MS 61 | $8.00 | $3,000.00 | $11.00 |
| MS 62 | $8.50 | $3,500.00 | $14.00 |
| MS 63 | $11.00 | $4,500.00 | $17.00 |
| MS 64 | $17.00 | $7,750.00 | $25.00 |
| MS 65 | $30.00 | $12,000.00 | $35.00 |
| MS 66 | $40.00 | $16,000.00 | $40.00 |
| MS 67 | $60.00 | / | $110.00 |
| MS 68 | $675.00 | / | $500.00 |
That said, Mint state from an MS series can provide excellent value. Especially the 1942 D MS, which we’ll get into below.
1942 P Dime Value
The Philadelphia Mint produced the most coins for the 1942 Dime. Unlike other issues with a high mintage, there are comparatively few instances of doubled-dies on 1942 P dimes. So, it has a relatively lower estimated price than the D series. The 1942 P Dime has a cost of $3 to $675.
1942 D Dime Value
The 1942 D-Dime has a price of $325 to an astounding $16,000. The Denver Mint provided the most significant coins for this year. So, make sure to check if your dime belongs to this series!
1942 S Dime Value
During World War II, the 1942-S Dime was produced in large quantities. Back then, coin collectors were already aware of the importance of holding onto unopened rolls.
As a result, many incredible and unused versions of this dime are available to collectors. This surplus leads to a lower selling price of $3 to $500.
This year, the San Francisco Mint used two different varieties of mintmark. The more common one, the normal S, was carried over from 1941 and was used for most 1942-S dimes.
However, there was also a new variation, the Trumpet Tail S, which was similar to one that was briefly used in 1928. While not overly abundant, it can still be found with enough frequency to not be classified as rare.
1942 Dime Full Band (FB) Value
The back of a Mercury Dime showcases a symbol known as the fasces. When discussing a Mercury Dime, it can receive a Full Bands designation if the central horizontal bands on the fasces (the ax-like design) on the reverse are fully and clearly separated.
| 1942 MS FB Dime Value List | |||
| Grading | Philadelphia | Denver | San Francisco |
| AU FB 55 | / | $2,100.00 | / |
| AU FB 58 | / | $2,500.00 | / |
| MS FB 60 | $8.50 | $3,150.00 | $10.00 |
| MS FB 61 | $10.00 | $3,500.00 | $13.50 |
| MS FB 62 | $12.50 | $4,000.00 | $17.00 |
| MS FB 63 | $17.50 | $7,000.00 | $25.00 |
| MS FB 64 | $25.00 | $12,000.00 | $40.00 |
| MS FB 65 | $45.00 | $27,500.00 | $110.00 |
| MS FB 66 | $60.00 | $36,500.00 | $195.00 |
| MS FB 67 | $275.00 | $65,000.00 | $385.00 |
| MS FB 68 | $625.00 | / | $9,750.00 |
Many 1942 dimes minted at Philadelphia fail to meet the Full Bands standard. However, plenty of well-preserved coins are available due to the high number produced and stored in rolls.
That said, the ones available from Philadelphia do not show excellent strike quality. With this in mind, coins from the Philadelphia Mint have the lowest estimated price at $8.50 to $625.
Meanwhile, the Denver Mint has the highest estimated price, costing about $2100 to $65000. It’s due to the combination of the aforementioned mint year error and the higher strike quality from this location.
Lastly, the S Dime has a value of $10 to $9750. The San Francisco Mint provides the lowest mintage, so it has a high base price.
1942 Dime Proof Value
Proof coins refer to the higher quality strike and a nice shiny surface for the coins. Most of the time, coin from this designation uses a high quality and new master die.
1942 marked the end of proof coin production until 1950 due to the rise of WWII. That year, the mint created 22,329 proof dimes, distinguishing them as the most superior Mercury Dime Proofs.
| 1942 MS PF Mercury Dime Value List | ||
| Grading | Proof (PF) | PF Cameo (CA) |
| MS PF 60 | $110.00 | / |
| MS PF 61 | $120.00 | / |
| MS PF 62 | $135.00 | / |
| MS PF 63 | $150.00 | $500.00 |
| MS PF 64 | $175.00 | $650.00 |
| MS PF 65 | $195.00 | $1,250.00 |
| MS PF 66 | $225.00 | $3,500.00 |
| MS PF 67 | $375.00 | $6,250.00 |
| MS PF 68 | $1,250.00 | / |
| MS PF 69 | $19,500.00 | / |
That said, the price for these coins is pretty high. The proof coins from this series have a price of $110 to $19,500 for the rare MS69. Meanwhile, the Cameo Proof coins start from $500 to $6,250.
1942 Error Coins
Error coins are a standard part of minting any series. Below is the price range for the different 1942 Error Coins.
1942/1 Mercury Dime Key Date Mint Error
The 1942/1-D Overdate Error (1942 over 41) is a common error in the series of silver Mercury Dimes. It occurred when the dies used in the production process were initially engraved with a 1941 date and, unintentionally, later completed with 1942 engraving.
The discrepancy is more apparent when comparing dimes from the Philadelphia Mint versus those from Denver. The error can be easily identified by observing the superimposed mint year engraving.
Multiple coins have seen this error in the market. This one from eBay is even going for $1495.00.
| 1942/41 Dime Value List | ||
| Grading | Philadelphia | Denver |
| G | $400.00 | $325.00 |
| VG | $430.00 | $400.00 |
| F | $450.00 | $400.00 |
| VF | $525.00 | $525.00 |
| XF | $650.00 | $625.00 |
| AU50 | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| AU53 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| AU55 | $1,100.00 | $1,450.00 |
| AU58 | $1,500.00 | $1,800.00 |
| MS60 | $2,300.00 | $2,800.00 |
| MS61 | $2,750.00 | $3,000.00 |
| MS62 | $3,500.00 | $3,500.00 |
| MS63 | $5,500.00 | $4,500.00 |
| MS64 | $7,250.00 | $7,750.00 |
| MS65 | $13,000.00 | $12,000.00 |
| MS66 | $18,500.00 | $16,000.00 |
1942 Mercury Dime Clip Error
A clip coin error is a type of mistake found in coins. It can occur because of errors in cutting or punching during the making of the coin and is considered one of the most commonly found clip coin errors. It involves a missing part of the coin’s raised edge.
This particular 1942 Mercury dime shows a slight change in the metal’s pattern but does not affect the size of the coin. This 1942 Dime showcases a clipped edge below Liberty’s bust. However, the coin is pretty worn down so, it’s up for sale for $17.99.
1942/42 Liberty Dime Date and Serif Missing Error
Another double date error: this coin is up for sale for $350.00. You’ll notice the faint outline of the same year, especially along the numbers 4 and 2.
But the error for this coin did not just end with the date. The ‘G’ in the ‘In God We Trust’ engraving also lacks serif. So, this coin boasts not just one but two strike errors which makes its price much higher.
1942 Mercury Dime Value Grading Based on Four Conditions
Grading is the main point on where the price of the coin is based. Here are the four conditions most grading systems will look at in a 1942 Mercury Dime.
Uncirculated State
A 1942 Mercury Dime in an Uncirculated State (MS60 and above) has never been used in any transactions. Since it was minted, it has retained its shine and remains in a pristine condition.
An uncirculated coin such as this is highly sought after and typically holds a higher value than similar coins from the same year. When viewed under a light, the surface reflects an unbroken and radiant luster.
Extremely Fine State
Some collectors may find the Mercury dimes in Extremely Fine condition to be desirable. It only has a small amount of wear. It allows for most of the design to remain detailed and well-defined.
Although there is some slight wear present on Liberty’s hair above the eye and minor smoothing on the wing details, these coins are still highly sought after.
Fine State
With a Fine State, the wear is more evident. This is especially noticeable to the details on Liberty’s head decorations. You will see that the details blend more together, especially in the smaller ones. Also, the luster of the coin is mainly gone.
Good State
The Good grade is the lowest your coin can grade, providing the least value. Most circulated coins belong to this grade. The details are all too blended to be easily distinguished. However, the larger contour can still be recognizable.
If you own a 1942 Mercury Dime, whether in pristine condition or with minting errors, it could be worth more than its face value.
In Conclusion
Whether adding to your collection or selling a 1942 dime, this guide ensures you understand its value. Always consult multiple sources before finalizing any sale.
Jenson is a professional numismatist, a dedicated coin collector, a graduate of the College of Business at Oregon State, a life member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), and an overall coin nerd. He is the founder of Coin Value List.